Louis Schreuder hopes his knowledge and experience as a proven winner will be mutually beneficial when he officially starts another chapter in his distinguished rugby career at the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers.
The former Springbok scrumhalf can truly say he has seen and done it all during a career where he represented the Stormers (Super Rugby), Western Province (Currie Cup), Kubota Spears (Japanese League One), the Southern Kings (Super Rugby), Sharks (Super Rugby and Currie Cup), Toulon (France Top14), Newcastle Falcons and Bath (both English Premiership) at the highest level.
Schreuder joins up with the Kavas on Tuesday, 1 July after a very successful final stint at Bath, who recently won the Premiership title and also bagged the European Challenge Cup crown under the guidance of former Springbok assistant coach Johan van Graan.
And even though Schreuder played more of a behind the scenes role during his final tenure at Bath, the former Springbok, says he has loads to share with a Kavas team he does have a intimate bond with.
‘Special Connection’ With Kavas
Connection [to a team] is something that is very important to me. I grew up here in Wellington, probably like 500 metres away from Boland stadium. As a toddler I used to come and watch Boland play rugby with my dad who played and coached at Boland.
I also have quite fond memories of the Wellington rugby club where my dad coached. That was the place where I truly started falling in love with the game. He played and coached at Boland for a bit. Altough Schreuder played all his youth rugby in the colours of Western Province, right up until senior level, he says he remains a Bolander at heart with him and his wife who is expecting the latest edition to their family, making the big move back to Wellington from the United Kingdom.
My family and I have adapted very well in Wellington since returning from England. I am obviously originally from Wellington so I know lots of people here and most of my family members still live here.
The transition back has been seamless, and I am excited to [once again] stay close to Boland Park as well.
The veteran halfback however knows his fellow younger teammates who are also vying for the number nine shirt won’t just make way for him to grab the jumper.
And Schreuder says of having to work hard when he rocks for his first day of training later this week:
I am excited to get going. It looks like a hungry group of players, and coach Hawies [Fourie] has created a good culture with them.
I am thrilled to start and meet everyone and hopefully add a bit of value and experience.
Schreuder a Proven Currie Cup winner Schreuder knows a thing or two about winning Currie Cup titles, having done so with Western Province in 2012 and the Sharks in 2018, and adds of bringing that wealth of experience to the Kavas:
Firstly it will be to be as fit as possible when we start the Currie Cup campaign and try and contribute as much as I can, share my knowledge on and off the pitch and then try to play as high a level of rugby as I can. I still have that hunger to compete and win games.
Everything is very well set up for me and my family. It is a bit of a full circle moment for me even though I played schoolboy rugby for Western Province and represented them at senior level as well.
My first love was always Boland, and it is a very good feeling to be back home.
